It is with great sadness and despair to report that British record producer Tony Clarke, has passed away at the age of 68. Once again, the entertainment business lost one of their own. He died on Monday January 4th of unknown causes. He produced for many musicians such as The Moody Blues, The Four Tops, and Clannad. The past year was no exception, as the world lost many entertainers in show business plus the shocking revelation of Michael Jackson's untimely death.
Anthony Ralph Clarke, was born on August 21st 1941 in Coventry, England in the midst of World War II. Some of his early memories were the sounds of the German Blitz, which hit the Coventry very hard. He produced records for The Moody Blues in the 60's and early 70's and was known as one of the most respected greatest record producers of all time. He was the first to experiment with the Moodies' progressive psychedelic rock sound. Clarke was in charge of putting together a demonstration record with The Moody Blues on the Decca Records, Deram Label that was supposed to resemble "Dvorak's New World Symphony." The result was his impressive production work on The Moody Blues debut album, "Days of Future Passed" which yielded the massive hit, "Nights in White Satin" on both sides of the Atlantic. His familiar signature sound is heard on one of the Moodies early songs, "Fly Me High" a mixed eclectic acoustic-electric sound written by Justin Hayward.
He was a good bass player, which led him to becoming a session man at Decca Records, and then a notable producer.
On the Moodies record, "On The Threshold of a Dream" he produced the entire album. It included the Moodies' hauntingly stunning hits, "Lovely To See You", "Never Comes The Day", and "Are You Sitting Comfortably" among others. He's also known for his work on Justin Hayward and John Lodge's album "Blue Jays" and Justin's solo album "Songwriter" (his three children are singing back-up vocals on Hayward's beautiful acoustic guitar melody, "Raised on Love") and also on Mike Pinder's tune "My Song" from the Moodies album, "Every Good Boy Deserves Favour." He was called "The Sixth Moody" for being the Moodies' "right-hand man" behind the scenes. He was also one of the few white record producers to work with Motown Records. Clarke was featured in an interview on two Moodies videos entitled, "Classic Artists: Moody Blues" and "Videobiography."
And so we bid a tearful, heartfelt farewell to a great man and record producer. He will be deeply missed by everyone who knew him in the Moody Blues Community. I offer my condolences to his family and friends during this most difficult time; even though I never knew him. He's now in a better place. Gone, but never forgotten. May he rest in peace.
Tony Clarke
1941-2010
For more information: http://www.myspace.com/tonyclarkerecords
http://www.moodybluestoday.com/index.cfm/pk/view/cd/NAA/cdid/407702/pid/400262
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